Cassette tape recorder

ABSTRACT

A tape recorder has a forward/reverse switching mechanism for switching tape travel at normal speed in the forward and reverse directions. Tape guides are disposed at two sides of a recording/playback head of the tape recorder. In response to the switching operation of the forward/reverse switching mechanism, a tape guide drive mechanism is driven. When a tape is driven at normal speed in one of the forward or reverse directions, one of the tape guides which is located in the upstream side of the tape travel with respect to the recording/playback head guides the tape, while the other one of the tape guides does not guide the tape.

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 419,603 filed Sept. 17,1982, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tape recorder which has a mechanismfor switching forward/reverse tape travel at normal speed and, moreparticularly, to a tape recorder which has a forward/reverse switchingmechanism which causes a magnetic tape to travel stably.

In tape recorders, it is known that an automatic reverse (auto-reverse)mechanism makes it possible to perform reciprocal recording andplayback. By using the automatic reverse mechanism, the presetconditions of the tape recorder and the tape mounting condition need notbe changed when the magnetic tape reaches its end in the forwarddirection of the tape travel, and the tape can be recorded and playedback in the reverse direction. If the operator wishes to performrecording or playback for a relatively long period of time, theautomatic reverse mechanism is very convenient.

Further, in tape recorders which have recently become commerciallyavailable, logic circuits have been abundantly used. The tape recorderof this type has a plurality of feather-touch switches which are used toset a predetermined mode of operation and the stop mode. A solenoidplunger or the like which is used as an electric/mechanical converter iscontrolled by a control LSI (Large Scale Integration), so that varioustypes of movable members of the mechanism are positioned to set thepredetermined mode of operation and the stop mode in accordance with abutton pressed by the operator. According to the tape recorder of theabove type, since the feather-touch control buttons can be adopted,soft-touch operation can be realized. Only one LSI is required to drivethe solenoid plunger corresponding to the pressed control button. Thus,the compact and light-weight tape recorder of this type can bemanufactured at low cost, as compared with the conventional mechanicaltape recorder.

However, in the tape recorder which includes a logic circuit and has theconventional automatic reverse mechanism, the overall arrangement isstill complex and does not sufficiently provide an advantage of thelogic circuit. Further, the tape recorder cannot be operated with highreliability and consumes much power. Therefore, a compact tape recorderwhich uses dry cells as the power source cannot be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovesituation and has for its object to provide a tape recorder wherein apair of tape guides are diposed at two sides of a head, the pair of tapeguides which respectively correspond to the upsteam and downstream sidesviewed from the head are displaced in a position to guide the tape andin a position not to guide the tape, when the tape travels at normalspeed in the forward/reverse direction, whereby tape travel can besmoothly and stably performed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided atape recorder, comprising a tape drive device for driving a magnetictape at normal speed in one of forward and reverse directions, aforward/reverse switching mechanism for switching the driving of themagnetic tape at normal speed in one of the forward and reversedirections, and a head for performing recording and playback of themagnetic tape, characterized by further comprising: tape guides disposedat two sides of the head and supported to be movable between a firstposition to guide the tape and a second position not to guide the tape;and a tape guide drive mechanism for displacing to the first positionthe tape guide or which lies on the upstream side of a tape traveldirection with respect to the head and displacing to the second positionthe tape guide or which lies on the downstream side of the tape traveldirection with respect to the head, when the tape is driven in one offorward and reverse directions interlockingly with the operation of theforward/reverse switching mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of a circuitof a tape recorder to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a tape recorder mechanism of atape recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are views of a forward/reverse switching mechanism of thetape recorder mechanism in FIG. 2 in order to explain the mode ofoperation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a head moving mechanism and a pinch rollerdrive mechanism of the tape recorder mechanisn shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detailed views showing the head moving mechanism inorder to explain the mode of operation thereof;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a head rotating mechanismof the tape recorder mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are detailed perspective views showing the head rotatingmechanism in order to explain the mode of operation thereof;

FIGS. 12 to 15 are views showing a drive mechanism for driving the headmoving mechanism, the head rotating mechanism, and the pinch rollerdrive mechanism in order to explain the mode of operation of the drivemechanism;

FIG. 16 is a detailed view showing the pinch roller drive mechanism anda tape guide drive mechanism; and

FIGS. 17 to 19 are views showing modifications of the tape guide drivemechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A tape recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention willbe described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of the taperecorder circuit. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes anLSI for controlling the tape recorder. The LSI 11 has an MUT inputterminal MUT for muting a recording signal, a STOP input terminal STOPfor stopping the tape travel, an REW input terminal REW for rewindingthe tape, an PLAY(R) input terminal PLAY(R) for playing the tape in thereverse direction, and REC input terminal REC for recording, a PLAY (F)input terminal PLAY(F) for playing the tape in the forward direction, anFF input terminal FF for fast forwarding the tape, and a PAUSE inputterminal PAUSE for temporarily stopping the tape travel. These inputterminals MUT, STOP, REW, PLAY(R), REC, PLAY(F), FF and PAUSE arerespectively connected to an MUT switch 12, a STOP switch 13, an REWswitch 14, a PLAY(R) switch 15, an REC switch 16, a PLAY(F) switch 17,an FF switch 18 and a PAUSE switch 19. These switches 12 to 19 arefeather-touch switches. When the operator presses one of the switches 12to 19, the corresponding one of the input terminals MUT, STOP, REW,PLAY(R), REC, PLAY(F), FF, and PAUSE reaches a high level. The LSI 11produces a code signal corresponding to the input terminal of high level(to be referred to as an H level hereinafter) from a data outputterminal D.OUT. In this case, once the LSI 11 produces the code signalfrom the data output terminal D.OUT, it electrically holds the codesignal. Even when the operator releases the depressed one of theswitches 12 to 19, the code signal is continuously generated.

Assume that the operator presses the REW switch 14 of the FF switch 18.The LSI 11 then produces a code signal corresponding to rewinding orfast forwarding. The code signal is supplied to a solenoid plunger (notshown) which drives a high speed tape drive mechanism (not shown)arranged in a tape recorder mechanism to be described later. The taperecorder mechanism is controlled to rewind the tape or fast forward it.

When the operator presses either the PLAY(F) switch 17 or the PLAY(R)switch 15 or both, the LSI 11 produces a code signal corresponding toplayback. Solenoid plungers 20 and 21 are then powered to drive a headmoving mechanism and a head rotating mechanism (to be described later)of the tape recorder mechanism. Thus, the tape recorder mechanism iscontrolled to drive the tape in the forward or reverse direction. Inother words, the tape recorder mechanism has a forward/reverse switchingmechanism to drive the tape at normal speed in the forward or reversedirection. The forward/reverse switching mechanism will be described infurther detail later on. Although a conventional tape recorder whichperforms recording or playback in the forward direction requires onePLAY switch, a tape recorder which has the automatic reverse mechanismmust perform recording and playback in the forward and reversedirections and requires two PLAY switches. If the operator presses ortouches one of the two PLAY switches, playback (or recording) in adirection selected by the corresponding PLAY switch is performed.However, when the operator presses or touches the two PLAY switches atthe same time, the automatic reverse mode is set. Therefore, if theoperator wishes to perform playback (or recording) in the forwarddirection, he presses or touches only the corresponding one of theswitches.

The code signal produced by the LSI 11 in a condition where the operatorpresses either the PLAY(F) switch 17 or the PLAY(R) switch 15, or bothis supplied to a control circuit 22. The control circuit 22 turns onswitching circits 23 and 24 in response to the code signal. A playbacksignal reproduced at a recording/playback head 25 shown in FIG. 1 issupplied to a noise reduction amplifier circuit 27 through the switchingcircuit 24, a playback equalizer circuit 26 and the switching circuit23.

If the operator presses a noise reduction switch 28, a noise reductioncircuit 29 and a switching circuit 30 are ON. The playback signalamplified by the noise reduction amplifier circuit 27 is supplied to anexternal output terminal 31 and a headphones jack 32 through the noisereduction circuit 29 and the switching circuit 30. The playback signalis also supplied to a level indicator circuit 33. However, when thenoise reduction switch 28 is OFF, a switching circuit 34 is ON. Theplayback signal amplified by the noise reduction amplifier circuit 27 isthen supplied to the external output terminal 31, the headphones jack 32and the level indicator circuit 33 through the switching circuit 34. Theplayback level is controlled by a variable register R connected to theplayback equalizer circuit 26.

When the operator presses the REC switch 16 together with one of thePLAY(F) and PLAY(R) switches 17 and 15 or both, recording in either theforward or reverse direction or automatic reverse recording can beperformed. In this case, the mode of operation of the tape recordermechanism is the same as that in playback, but the operation of thecircuit shown in FIG. 1 in the recording mode is different from that inthe playback mode. When the operator presses the REC switch 16 and oneof the PLAY(F) and PLAY(R) switches 17 and 15 or both, the LSI 11energizes the solenoid plungers 20 and 21 and produces a correspondingcode signal from the data output terminal D.OUT.

In response, to the code signal, the control circuit 22 controlsswitching circuits 35 and 36 in FIG. 1 which are turned on. When theoperator presses the REC switch 16, the LSI 11 produces a signal fordriving a base oscillator circuit 37 from a recording output terminalR.OUT. Therefore, if the noise reduction switch 28 is ON, the recordingsignal supplied to an external input terminal 38 or an externalmicrophone jack 39 is superposed on an output signal from the biasoscillator circuit 37 through a recording volume control 40, theswitching circuit 35, the noise reduction amplifier circuit 27, thenoise reduction circuit 29, a recording level control 41 and a recordingequalizer circuit 42. The recording signal is then supplied to therecording/playback head 25 through the switching circuit 36. In thiscase, an output from the noise reduction circuit 29 is supplied to theexternal output terminal 31, the headphones jack 32 and the levelindicator circuit 33 through the switching circuit 30 so as to monitorthe recording level.

If the noise reduction switch 28 is OFF, the noise reduction circuit 29is not driven. The recording signal amplified by the noise reductionamplifier circuit 27 passes through the noise reduction circuit 29.Noise reduction is thus not performed and the recording signal issupplied to the recording level control 41. In this case, the recordingsignal amplified in the noise reduction amplifier circuit 27 is suppliedto the external output terminal 31, the headphones jack 32 and the levelindicator circuit 33 through the switching circuit 34. Thus, therecording level can be monitored.

In the above recording state, when the operator presses the MUT switch12, the LSI 11 produces a code signal which corresponds to depression ofthe MUT switch 12 to the control circuit 22. The control circuit 22 thendrives the muting circuit 43, so that the recording signal whose levelis controlled by the recording level control 41 is grounded. It will benoted that muting is performed only for the duration in which the MUTswitch 12 is being pressed.

When the operator presses the PAUSE switch 19 once, the LSI 11 producesa code signal to temporarily interrupt the playback condition of thetape recorder mechanism. When the PAUSE switch 19 is pressed again,playback is resumed.

Upon depression of the STOP switch 13, the LSI 11 produces a code signalto interrupt any operation set by other switches 12 and 14 to 19.Simultaneously, the tape recorder mechanism is set in the stop mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape recorder mechanism 44. Referencenumeral 45 denotes a substantially box-shaped main chassis of a compactcassette tape recorder. Various types of mechanisms to be describedlater are disposed at the front, rear, upper, lower, right and leftportions of the tape recorder mechanism 44. An operation panel 46 onwhich the STOP switch 13, the REW switch 14, the PLAY(R) switch 15, theREC switch 16, the PLAY(F) switch 17, the FF switch 18 and the PAUSEswitch 19 are arranged extends toward the front from the main chassis 45at the lower end thereof.

A head chassis 47 is supported at approximately the center of the mainchassis 45 to be reciprocally movable in the directions indicated byarrows A and B in FIG. 2. The recording/playback head 25 is mounted onthe head chassis 47 through a head rotating mechanism 48. The headchassis 47 is slid in the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG.2 by means of the head moving mechanism (not shown in FIG. 2), so thatthe recording/playback head 25 comes in contact with or is separatedfrom a tape (not shown).

Tape guide portions 49a and 50a of tape guides 49 and 50, capstans 51and 52, and pinch rollers 53 and 54 are respectively disposed at twosides of the recording/playback head 25. The pinch rollers 53 and 54selectively come in contact with the capstans 51 and 52 by means of apinch roller drive mechanism (to be described later) in accordance withthe forward or reverse direction of tape travel at normal speed. Thetape guide portions 49a and 50a are supported to be movable in thedirections indicated by arrows A and B. When the tape guide portions 49aand 50a are moved in the direction indicated by arrow A, they come incontact with the tape to guide it. However, when the tape guide portions49a and 50a are moved in the direction indicated by arrow B, they areseparated from the tape and do not guide it. The tape guide portions 49aand 50a are selectively moved in the directions indicated by arrows Aand B by means of a tape guide drive mechanism (to be described later)in accordance with the forward or reverse direction of the tape travelat normal speed.

Each tape guide portion 49a, 50a respectively includes a pair ofupstanding guide flanges 49b, 50b. Each flange pair 49b, 50b in turndefines a recessed guide surface 49c, 50c, respectively, which arebrought into guiding contact with the tape when the tape guide portions49c, 50c are respectively moved in the direction of arrow A.

A left reel table 55 and a right reel table 56 extend at approximatelythe center of the main chassis 45 so as to interpose the head chassis 47therebetween. The right and left reel tables 56 and 55 are connected toa tape terminal end detecting mechanism (not shown). At the upperportion of the main chassis 45 in FIG. 2 are disposed a tape counter 57connected to the right reel table 56, a motor 58 as a power source ofthe drive systems, and control levers 59 and 60 of the automatic reversecycle limiting mechanism and the manual reverse mechanism.

FIG. 3 shows the forward/reverse switching mechanism 61 of the taperecording mechanism 44 shown in FIG. 2. The head chassis 47 is indicatedby the dotted line in FIG. 3 and is illustrated in a simple manner fordescriptive convenience. A pair of projections 47a and 47b are formed atpredetermined positions of the two sides of the head chassis 47. Theprojections 47a and 47b of the head chassis 47 engage with engagingportions 62b and 63b formed at the lower portions of through holes 62aand 63b. The through holes 62a and 63b are respectively formed atapproximately the centers of left and right playback sliders 62 and 63indicated by the alternate long and two dashed lines. A pair ofelongated holes 62c and 62d are formed in the left playback slider 62,and a pair of elongated holes 63c and 63d are formed in the rightplayback slider 63. Guide pins 62e and 62f which are formed on the mainchassis 45 are fitted in the elongated holes 62c and 62d, and guide pins63e and 63f which are also formed on the main chassis 45 are fitted inthe elongated holes 63c and 63d. Thus, the right and left sliders 63 and62 are reciprocally movable in the directions indicated by arrows A andB (FIG. 3) in the same manner as the head chassis 47.

The right and left playback sliders 63 and 62 are respectively urged bysprings (not shown) in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3. Thehead chassis 47 is urged by a spring (not shown) in the directionindicated by arrow B in FIG. 3. The spring which urges the head chassis47 has an urging force greater than that of tthe springs which urge theright and left playback sliders 63 and 62 in the direction indicated byarrow A. In the STOP mode, since the head chassis 47 is moved in thedirection indicated by arrow B, the left and right playback sliders 62and 63 are moved in the direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3 sincethe engaging portions 62b and 63b respectively urged by the projections47a and 47b of the head chassis 47. When the operator presses or touchesone of the PLAY(R) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17 or both, the LSI 11produces a signal to drive a head moving mechanism to be describedlater. As a result, the head chassis 47 is moved against the urgingforce of the spring in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3. Theleft and right playback sliders 62 and 63 control idlers (not shown) andgears (not shown) which transmit rotation of the motor 58 to the leftand right reel tables 55 and 56. In particular, when the left playbackslider 62 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3, theleft reel table 55 is driven to take up the tape. Thus, the tape isplayed in the reverse direction. When the right playback slider 63 isslid in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3, the right reeltable 56 is driven to take up the tape. Thus, the tape is played in theforward direction. The forward or reverse travel of the tape isdetermined by movement of the right playback slider 63 or the leftplayback slider 62 in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3.

A tapered engaging portion 62g is formed at the upper right portion ofthe left playback slider 62 in FIG. 3. A concave-shaped notch engagingportion 63g is formed substantially at the upper central portion of theright playback slider 63 in FIG. 3. A reverse drive lever 64 is disposedon the lower surfaces of the left and right playback sliders 62 and 63and is supported to be rotatable about a shaft 64a extending on the mainchassis 45. A bent engaging portion 64c which engages with the engagingportion 62g of the left playback slider 62 is formed at the left portionof a base body 64b of the reverse drive lever 64 in FIG. 3. A bentengaging portion 64d which engages with the engaging portion 63g of theright playback slider 63 is formed at the right portion of the base body64b of the reverse drive lever 64 in FIG. 3. Further, an elongated hole64e of a substantially crank shape is formed at the left portion of thebase body 64b of the reverse drive lever 64 in FIG. 3.

A projection 65b extending from one side surface of a gear 65 is fittedin the elongate hole 64e of the reverse drive lever 64. The gear 65 issupported to be rotatable about a shaft 65a which extends on the mainchassis 45. When the gear 65 is rotated, the reverse drive lever 64swings about the shaft 64a. A pair of engaging portions 65c and 65d,which engage with a locking lever 66 (to be described later) uponrotation of the gear 65 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, are formedon the side surface opposite the side surface of the gear 65 on whichthe projection 65b is formed. The engaging portions 65c and 65d opposeeach other with the shaft 65a interposed therebetween. The locking lever66 is supported to be pivotal about a shaft 66a extending on the mainchassis 45. An engaging portion 66b which is selectively engageable anddisengageable from the engaging portions 65c and 65d of the gear 65 isformed in the locking lever 66. The locking lever 66 is constantly urgedcounterclockwise (FIG. 3), that is, in the direction where the engagingportion 66b engages with the engaging portions 65c and 65d of the gear65. The locking lever 66 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 3 against theurging force of the spring when the terminal end of the tape is detectedin the automatic reverse mode or when the control lever 60 (FIG. 2) ofthe manual reverse mechanism is pivoted. Thus, the engaging portion 66bof the locking lever 66 disengages from the engaging portions 65c and65d of the gear 65.

The gear 65 constantly meshes with a first gear (not shown). The gearratio of the first gear to the gear 65 is 1 to 2. When the first gearrevolves once, the gear 65 revolves half of one revolution. A notchedportion is formed at a predetermined position of the first gear. Thenotched portion opposes a second gear which is driven by the motor 58 inone direction independent of the tape travel. When the second gearmeshes with the first gear, the second gear causes the first gear torotate the gear 65 clockwise in FIG. 3.

In the arrangement described above, assume that the operator presses ortouches both the PLAY(R) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17. The headchassis moving mechanism is driven to slide the head chassis 47 in thedirection indicated by arrow A. The engaging portions 62b and 63b of theleft and right playback sliders 62 and 63 are respectively detached fromthe projections 47a and 47b of the head chassis 47. Thus, the headchassis 47 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3 bythe urging force of the spring. If the engaging portion 66b of thelocking lever 66 engages with the engaging portion 65d of the gear 65,the reverse drive lever 64 is regulated to the position shown in FIG. 3by the projection 65b. Therefore, the right playback slider 63 issufficiently moved in the direction indicated by arrow A, while the leftplayback slider 62 is not sufficiently moved in the direction indicatedby arrow A since its engaging portion 62g abuts against the bentengaging portion 64c of the reverse drive lever 64. Idlers or the likewhich are controlled by the right playback slider 63 are then moved topredetermined positions where the right reel table 56 is rotated. Thus,forward playback is performed. The recording/playback head 25 (FIG. 2)of the head chassis 47 is in contact with the tape. In this case, sincethe reverse drive lever 64 limits rotation of the left playback slider62 which is urged in the direction indicated by arrow A, the reversedrive lever 64 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 3. The gear 65 which has theprojection 65b fitted in the elongated hole 64e of the reverse drivelever 64 is also pivoted clockwise in FIG. 3. However, since theengaging portion 65d of the reverse drive lever 64 engages with theengaging portion 66b of the locking lever 66, the gear 65 does notrotate and the reverse drive lever 64 is kept in the position shown inFIG. 3.

In the forward playback mode described above, assume that the tapereaches its end. The locking lever 66 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 4 bymeans of the tape terminal end detecting mechanism. The engaging portion66b of the locking lever 66 is disengaged from the engaging portion 65dof the gear 65. As described above, since the urging force is applied tothe gear 65 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, the gear 65 is rotatedslightly clockwise in FIG. 4. The first gear meshed with the gear 65 isslightly rotated counterclockwise. The first gear then meshes with thesecond gear, so that the gear 65 is rotated by the second gear in theclockwise direction in FIG. 4.

When the first gear revolves once and the notched portion thereofopposes the second gear again, the gear 65 is rotated half of onerevolution, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the engaging portion 65c thereofis stopped by the engaging portion 66b of the locking lever 66. Uponmovement of the projection 65b of the gear 65, the reverse drive lever64 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 5. The bent engaging portion 64d of thereverse drive lever 64 abuts against the engaging portion 63g of theright playback slider 63. The right playback slider 63 is withdrawn inthe direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 5. Meanwhile, the leftplayback slider 62 is sufficiently moved in the direction indicated byarrow A since the engaging portion 62g of the left playback slider 62 isdisengaged from the bent engaging portion 64c of the reverse drive lever64. The idlers or the like which are controlled by the left playbackslider 62 are moved to a predetermined position where the left reeltable 55 is rotated. Therefore, reverse playback is performed. Therecording/playback head 25 mounted on the head chassis 47 is broughtinto contact with the tape.

The head chassis 47 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow B bymeans of the head moving mechanism when forward playback is switched toreverse playback and vice versa. The head chassis 47 is then moved inthe same direction as the left playback slider 62 or the right playbackslider 63, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow A.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, since the reverse drive lever 64 limitsmovement of the right playback slider 63 in the direction indicated byarrow A, the urging force is applied to the reverse drive lever 64 inthe counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5. The gear 65 is then urgedclockwise in FIG. 5. However, since the engaging portion 65c of the gear65 engages with the engaging portion 66b of the locking lever 66, thegear 65 does not rotate and the reverse drive lever 64 is kept in theposition shown in FIG. 5.

In the reverse playback mode described above, when the tape reaches itsend, the locking lever 66 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 5 by means of thetape terminal end detecting mechanism. Substantially in the same manneras described above, the gear 65 is rotated half of one revolution in theclockwise direction in FIG. 5. Thus, forward playback as shown in FIG. 3is restarted. It may be apparent that the forward/reverse switchingmechanism 61 is operated not only when the tape reaches its terminal endbut also when the control lever 60 of the manual reverse mechanism ispivoted. The tape can be driven in the forward or reverse direction anytime.

The forward/reverse switching mechanism 61 has been described above.Now, a head moving mechanism 67 will be described with reference to FIG.6. Referring to FIG. 6, a head slider 68 is interposed between the mainchassis 45 and the head chassis 47. The head slider 68 is interlockedwith the head chassis 47 by hooking a coil spring 68b between a bentengaging portion 68a formed on one side of the head slider 68 and athrough hole 47c formed in the end portion of the head chassis 47. Thehead moving mechanism 67 causes the head slider 68 to move in thedirection indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6. Therefore, the head chassis 47is slid in the same direction as the head slider 68 through the spring68b. As shown in FIG. 7, the capstan 52 disposed at a predeterminedposition of the main chassis 45 is rotatably supported. A flywheel (notshown) and a small-diameter gear 69 are coaxial with the capstan 52. Theflywheel transmits the rotational force of the motor 58 via a belt (notshown) and is driven at normal speed. A large-diameter gear 70 which canbe meshed with the gear 69 is rotatably supported on the main chassis45. Two notched portions 70a and 70b which can be meshed with the gear69 are formed in the gear 70 at positions at an angular interval of 90°with respect to the rotating center thereof.

A substantially ring-shaped guide wall 70c is formed on one surface ofthe gear 70, which does not oppose the main chassis 45. Most of theguide wall 70c is concentrical with the gear 70, and a recess 70d whichhas a smaller radius than that of most of the guide wall 70c is formedat an angular interval of 90° with respect to the rotating center of thegear 70. An arcuated control wall 70e which has a large diameter isdisposed to oppose the recess 70d of the gear 70.

One end of a locking member 71 is located at one side of the gear 70.The locking member 71 is supported at substantially the center thereofto be rotatable about a shaft 71a. A roller 71b is supported at one endof the locking member 61 to engage with the guide wall 70c of the gear70. A drive portion 20a of the solenoid plunger 20 is coupled to theother end of the locking member 71. The locking member 71 is urgedclockwise in FIG. 7, that is, in the direction where the roller 71b isurged against the outer surface of the guide wall 70c of the gear 70 bymeans of a torsion spring 71e wound around the shaft 71a. One end of thetorsion spring 71e is stopped between the shaft 71a and a step portion71c, and the other end of the torsion spring 71e is stopped by a pin 71dextending from the main chassis 45.

A cam portion 70g which has an arcuated portion and a flat portion 70fis formed on the side of the gear 70 which opposes the main chassis 45.An engaging portion 68c which is formed by bending part of the headslider 68 is disposed in the upper portion of the cam portion 70g inFIG. 7 to oppose the cam portion 70g indicated by the alternate long andtwo dashed lines. One end of a drive lever 72 is interposed between thecam portion 70g of the gear 70 and the engaging portion 68c of the headslider 68. The other end of the drive lever 72 is supported to berotatable about a shaft 72a extending on the main chassis 45. The drivelever 72 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by a coil spring 72d hookedbetween a through hole 72b formed at the other end portion of the drivelever 72 and an engaging portion 72c extending from the main chassis 45.

One end of the drive lever 72 urges one end of the flat portion 70f ofthe gear 70, so that the gear 70 tends to rotate counterclockwise inFIG. 7. However, rotation of the gear 70 is prevented since the stepportion 70h of the gear 70 between the recess 70d and the guide wall 70cabuts against the roller 71b of the locking member 71. At this time, thenotched portion 70a of the gear 70 opposes the gear 69. Even if theflywheel is rotated, the rotational force may not be transmitted to thegear 70.

In this condition, when the operator presses or touches one of thePLAY(R) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17, or both, the LSI 11 produces asignal to drive the solenoid plunger 20. A drive portion 20a of thesolenoid plunger 20 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 7. The locking member 71 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 7against the urging force of the torsion spring 71e. The roller 71b ofthe locking member 71 is smoothly detached from the step portion 70h ofthe gear 70. The gear 70 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by theurging force of the drive lever 72. The gear 70 is then meshed with thegear 69 which is driven at normal speed in the clockwise direction inFIG. 7. Thus, the gear 70 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 7. One endof the drive lever 72 is pushed upward by the arcuated portion of thecam portion 70g, so that the the drive lever 72 is pivoted clockwise inFIG. 7 against the urging force of the spring 72d. One end of the drivelever 72 abuts against the engaging portion 68c of the head slider 68,and the head slider 68 is moved upward in FIG. 7. As described above,the head chassis 47 interlocked with the head slider 68 is slid upwardin FIG. 6. As a result, the recording/playback head 25 is brought intocontact with the tape.

Since the solenoid plunger 20 is driven when the tape is driven atnormal speed, the gear 70 is rotated by three-fourths of one revolutionin the counterclockwise direction from the position indicated in FIG. 7,and the notched portion 70b of the gear 70 opposes the gear 69 as shownin FIG. 8. The roller 71b of the locking member 71 abuts against one endof the control wall 70e of the gear 70, so that rotation of the gear 70is interrupted. At this time, one end of the drive lever 72 is kept inan uppermost position and abuts against the boundary of the arcuated andflat portions of the cam portion 70g. The gear 70 tends to be rotated ina counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8 by the urging force of the spring72d. However, since the roller 71b of the locking member 71 abutsagainst one end portion of the control wall 70e of the gear 70, rotationof the gear 70 is interrupted. In this condition, the tape is driven atnormal speed. Further, in the condition where the tape is driven atnormal speed, as shown in FIG. 8, assume that the operator presses ortouches the STOP switch 13. The LSI 11 produces a signal to deenergizethe solenoid plunger 20. The locking member 71 is urged by the urgingforce of the torsion spring 71e in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8.The roller 71b is rotated and is smoothly separated from one end of thecontrol wall 70e of the gear 70 and is urged into the recess 70d. Sincethe urging force is applied to the gear 70 (which is maintained in thecondition shown in FIG. 8) through the drive lever 72, the gear 70 isrotated counterclockwise in FIG. 70 and is meshed again with the gear69. The gear 70 is further rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 9, and theroller 71b of the locking member 71 is stopped again by the step portion70h of the gear 70, as shown in FIG. 7, so that rotation of the gear 70is stopped.

At this time, since the drive lever 72 is pivoted counterclockwise inFIG. 7 by the urging force of the spring 72d, the head slider 68 and thehead chassis 47 are restored to the original positions, and theoperation is stopped. The LSI causes the tape terminal end detectingmechanism to produce a detection signal so as to deenergize the solenoidplunger 20. Thus, the stop mode is set. In the condition where the tapeis driven at normal speed as shown in FIG. 8, the teeth formed of thegear 70 between the notched portions 70b and 70a are meshed with thegear 69, and the urging force applied to the gear 70 in thecounterclockwise direction in FIG. 8 by the drive lever 72 is limited bythe inertia of the flywheel. The step portion 70h does not bump againstthe roller 71b.

When the operator presses or touches the REC switch 16 and one of thePLAY(R) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17, the head moving mechanism 67 isstabilized in the position indicated in FIG. 8 and the circuit shown inFIG. 1 is set in the recording mode.

In the automatic reverse mode where the operator presses or touches thePLAY(R) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17, the LSI 11 causes the solenoidplunger 20 to turn on in the condition shown in FIG. 7. Forward orreverse playback is then performed, as shown in FIG. 8. When the LSI 11detects that the detection signal is produced by the tape terminal enddetecting mechanism, the LSI 11 temporarily deenergizes the solenoidplunger 20. The stop mode is thus set, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter,the head chassis 47 is temporarily moved downward as in FIG. 6. The LSI11 then automatically produces the signal to power the solenoid plunger20 again. The condition shown in FIG. 8 is then restored, so that thehead chassis 47 is moved upward in FIG. 8. As described with referenceto FIGS. 3 to 5, forward driving is switched to reverse driving, or viceversa. At this time, the LSI 11 temporarily deenergizes the solenoidplunger 20. Thereafter, the solenoid plunger 20 is powered again.

In the reciprocal recording mode wherein the operator presses or touchesthe REC switch 15 and the PLAY(F) and PLAY(F) switches 15 and 17, thecircuit shown in FIG. 1 is set to the recording mode. Other mechanicaloperation is the same as reciprocal playback described above.

Said head rotating mechanism 48 will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 9. The recording/playback head 25 is mounted on thehead chassis 47 through the head rotating mechanism 48. A drive slider74 which is free to slide in the directions indicated by arrows C and Din FIG. 9 is supported at the front end portion of the main chassis 45.A pair of clamping portions 74a and 74b extend at approximately thecenter of the drive slider 74. A drive portion 75a (to be described indetail later) of a sector-shaped gear 75 which is disposed in the headrotating mechanism 48 is disposed between the clamping portions 74a and74b of the drive slider 74.

FIG. 10 shows the outer appearance of the head rotating mechanism 48.The recording/playback head 25 is especially used for a microcassettetape recorder. A head assembly 25 is disposed near one side of a tapecontact surface 25b. The recording/playback head 25 is parallel to anerase head 76 for the microcassette tape recorder and is fitted in asubstantially cylindrical head support 77.

A head mount assembly 78 integrally supports a head base plate 79 and agear 80. A substantially sector-shaped gear 75 which meshes with thegear 80 is supported by the head mount assembly 78 to be rotatable atthe proximal portion of the sector-shaped gear 75. The head support 77is mounted on the head base plate 79.

A mount portion 78a of the head mount assembly 78 contacts the headchassis 47 and is fixed by screws (not shown). The tape contact surface25b faces upward in FIG. 3 in the condition where the head mountassembly 78 is mounted on the head chassis 47. A driven portion 75aextends from the proximal portion of the sector-shaped gear 75. Thedriven portion 75a is interposed between the clamped portions 74a and74b of the drive slider 74 in the condition where the head mountassembly 78 is mounted on the head chassis 47. Even if the head chassis47 is moved in the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 9, thedriven portion 75a may not escape from the space between the clampingportions 74a and 74b. As described above, for switching forward drivingto reverse driving or vice versa, the drive slider 74 is moved in thedirections indicated by arrows C and D in FIG. 9, and the sector-shapedgear 75 is pivoted about its proximal portion.

If the sector-shaped gear 75 is pivoted in the direction indicated byarrow E in FIG. 10, the gear 80 which is meshed with the sector-shapedgear 75 is pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow F. The head baseplate 79 and the head support 77 are also rotated in the directionindicated by arrow F. The recording/playback head 25 and the erase head76 are rotated through 180° as shown in FIG. 11. Although the headassembly 25 opposes the lower track of a tape 81 indicated by thealternate long and two dashed lines in FIG. 10, the head assembly 25aopposes the upper track of the tape 81 after its rotation through 180°as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the track change (head movement) can beperformed when the forward driving mode is switched to the reversedriving mode or vice versa. When the sector-shaped gear 75 is rotated inthe direction indicated by arrow G in FIG. 11, the gear 80, the headbase plate 79 and the head support 77 are rotated in the directionindicated by arrow H in FIG. 11. Thus, the recording/playback head 25and the erase head 76 return to their original positions.

The recording/playback head 25 and the erase head 76 contact the tape 81via head insertion holes which are formed in the cassette half of thecompact tape cassette.

A pair of engaging portions 79a and 79b extend at part of the head baseplate 79. A pair of screws 78b and 78c are screwed in one side of thehead mount assembly 78. The head base plate 79 is rotated until theengaging portions 79a and 79b respectively abut against the screws 78band 78c, as shown in FIG. 11.

The azimuths of the recording/playback head 25 and the erase head 76 canbe adjusted by changing the screwing depths of the screws 78b and 78c.The recording/playback head 25 and the erase head 76 are connected tothe recording/playback circuits through lead wires extending through therotating center of the gear 80 after extending through the head support77, the head base plate 79 and the head mount assembly 78.

Arrows 83 are marked on one side of the head support 77 to indicate thedirections of the tape travel, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

A tape guide portion 77a which supports two edges of the tape 81 isformed at one side portion of the head support 77. A torsion spring 84shown in FIG. 11 provide bistable function to stabilize the head support77 in two positions shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

A drive mechanism 85 for sliding the drive slider 74 in the directionsindicated by arrows C and D in FIG. 9 to pivot the sector-shaped gear 75of the head rotating mechanism 48 in FIG. 12 will be described. FIG. 12shows the condition wherein the gear 70 is viewed from the directionopposite to the direction shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. One end of a controllever 86 abuts against the arcuate portion of the cam portion 70g of thegear 70. The control lever 86 is supported at substantially the centerthereof to be pivotal about a shaft 86a extending on the main chassis45. A pair of projections 86b and 86c are formed upward in FIG. 12 atthe other end portion of the control lever 86. The distance between theprojection 86b and the shaft 86a is different from that between theprojection 86c and the shaft 86a. A concave-shaped arcuate portion 86dis formed between the projections 86b and 86c. A bent engaging portion86e is formed in the vicinity of the shaft 86a of the control lever 86.Since a coil spring 86g is hooked between the bent engaging portion 86eand an engaging portion 86f formed on the main chassis 45, the controllever 86 is urged clockwise in FIG. 12. One end of the control lever 86is urged against the cam portion 70g of the gear 70.

A substantially cylindrical driving shaft 87 is disposed above andarcuated portion 86d of the control lever 86 in FIG. 12 and isperpendicular to the control lever 86. A pair of projections 87a and 87bwhich respectively oppose the projections 86b and 86c of the controllever 86 are disposed at the side portion of the driving shaft 87 tooppose each other. A drive portion 87c extends downward in FIG. 12 fromthe side portion of the driving shaft 87. The distal end of the driveportion 87c is disposed between a pair of projections 74c and 74d whichare formed at one end of the drive slider 74.

The projections 87a and 87b of the driving shaft 87 are formed indifferent positions along the longitudinal direction of the drivingshaft 87, as shown in FIG. 13. A shaft portion 87d which has a smallerdiameter than the driving shaft 87 and around which a spring 87e extendsis supported to be slidable in the directions indicated by arrows I andJ (FIG. 13), that is, in the longitudinal direction of the main chassis(not shown in FIG. 13) and to be pivotal about its axis. The drivingshaft 87 is urged by the spring 87e in the direction indicated by arrowI. In this urging condition, the projection 87b opposes the projection86c of the control lever 86.

One end of a substantially L-shaped switching lever 88 engages the driveportion 87c of the driving shaft 87. The switching lever 88 is supportedat the bent portion thereof to be pivotal about the main chassis 45. Theother end of the switching lever 88 is connected to a drive portion 21aof the solenoid plunger 21.

Assume that the operator presses or touches the PLAY(R) and PLAY(F)switches 15 and 17 to establish the automatic reverse mode. The gear 70is rotated, and the head chassis 47 is slid upward in FIG. 6 by means ofthe cam portion 70g through the drive lever 72 and the head slider 68.The recording/playback head 25 is then brought into contact with thetape. At the same time, the control lever 86 is pivoted counterclockwisein FIG. 14 by means of the cam portion 70g of the gear 70 against theurging force of the spring 86g (FIG. 12). Since the projection 86c ofthe control lever 86 opposes the projection 87b of the driving shaft 87,the projection 86c urges the projection 87b, so that the driving shaft87 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 14. The drive portion 87c of thedriving shaft 87 urges the projection 74d of the drive slider 74 shownin FIG. 12, so that the drive slider 74 is slid in the directionindicated by arrow D in FIG. 12. The sector-shaped gear 75 of the headrotating mechanism 48 which is disposed between the clamping portions74a and 74b of the drive slider 74 is pivoted in the direction as shownin FIGS. 10 and 11. Thus, the recording/playback head 25 is rotated.

Assume that the tape is driven at normal speed in the forward direction.When the tape reaches its terminal end and when the detection signal isproduced by the tape terminal end detecting mechanism, the LSI 11produces the control signal to deenergize the solenoid plunger 20. Dataof a predetermined duration for which the head chassis 47 is moved fromthe playback position, as shown in FIG. 7, to the stop position ispreset in the LSI 11. When the predetermined duration has elapsed, theLSI 11 produces a signal to power the solenoid plungers 20 and 21. Thedrive portion 21a of the solenoid plunger 21 is moved, so that one endof the switching lever 88 is urged against the urging force of thespring 87e of the drive portion 87c of the driving shaft 87 in thedirection indicated by arrow J in FIG. 13. The projection 87a of thedriving shaft 87 opposes the projection 86b of the control lever 86 atthis time.

When the gear 70 is rotated, the drive lever 72 and the control lever 86are respectively rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 15 by means of the camportion 70g. The projection 86b of the control lever 86 urges theprojection 87a of the driving shaft 87, so that the driving shaft 87 ispivoted clockwise in FIG. 15. The drive portion 87c of the driving shaft87 urges the projection 74c of the drive slider 74, and the drive slider74 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 15. Thesector-shaped gear 75 of the head rotating mechanism 48 is pivoted, andthe recording/playback head 25 is rotated.

Before the tape reaches its end in the reverse playback mode, the LSI 11stores data indicating that the previous mode is the reverse playbackmode. When the tape terminal end detecting signal is produced, thesolenoid plunger 20 is temporarily deenergized and then powered again inthe same manner as described above. However, at this time, the solenoid21 is not powered. When the control lever 86 is pivoted by the camportion 70g, the projection 86c abuts against the projection 87b of thedriving shaft 87. As described above, the drive slider 74 is slid in thedirection indicated by arrow D in FIG. 13, and the recording/playbackhead 25 opposes a track for forward playback. In other words, when thetape terminal detecting signal is produced in the condition where thetape is driven at normal speed in the forward or reverse direction, theLSI 11 functions to supply power to or to deenergize the solenoidplunger 21.

When the gear 70 is rotated, the recording/playback head 25 is rotatedand then the head chassis 47 is moved to a position where playback isperformed. These operations are slightly delayed. When the gear 70starts to be rotated, as is apparent from FIG. 15, the large-diameterportion of the cam portion 70g urges the control lever 86, while thesmall-diameter portion thereof urges the drive lever 72. The controllever 86 is first abruptly pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 15, so thatthe recording/playback head 25 is quickly rotated. Thereafter, the gear70 is further rotated to urge the large-diameter portion of the camportion 70g so that the head chassis 47 is moved in the position whereplayback is performed. In this manner, after the recording/playback head25 is rotated, the head chassis 47 is moved in the position describedabove. Reverse playback is switched to forward playback in the samemanner as described above.

As shown in FIG. 13, a projection 86h is formed at the lower portion ofthe arcuated portion 86d of the control lever 86. When the notchedportion 70a of the gear 70 opposes the gear 69 shown in FIG. 12, thatis, when the tape recorder is set in the stop mode, the projection 86hengages with a control portion 74f of one of pinch lever controlportions 74e and 74f (only the pinch lever control portion 74f is shownin FIG. 13) to be described later. Thus, the drive slider 74 may not beslid in the direction indicated by arrow C. This prevents damage to thehead rotating mechanism 48 when the recording/playback head 25 isabruptly rotated due to vibration or dropping of the tape recorder. Whenthe recording/playback head 25 in the automatic reverse mode is rotated,the control lever 86 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 15, and theprojection 86h of the control lever 86 is disengaged from the pinchlever control portion 74f of the drive slider 74, so that the driveslider 74 is free to slide.

A pinch roller drive mechanism 89 for selectively urging the pinchrollers 53 and 54 toward the capstans 51 and 52 will be described indetail with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, pinch levers 90 and 91 whichrotatably support the pinch rollers 53 and 54, respectively, aredisposed at the two sides of the head chassis 47 on the main chassis 45.The other end portions of pinch levers 90 and 91 are supported to bepivotal about shafts 90a and 91a, respectively, disposed on the mainchassis 45. The pinch levers 90 and 91 are urged upward to make thepinch rollers 53 and 54 tightly contact the capstans 51 and 52 by meansof torsion springs 90c and 91c. One end of each of the torsion springs90c and 91c is stopped by one end of each of the pinch levers 90 and 91.The other end of each of the torsion springs 90c and 91c is stopped byeach of bent engaging portions 68d and 68e formed at the two ends of thehead slider 68, and each spring is hooked at each of the shafts 90a and91a. Bent portions 47d and 47e which respectively engage from the above(FIG. 6) with rotating shafts 53a and 54a of the pinch rollers 53 and 54are formed at the two sides of the head chassis 47. Engaging portions90d and 91d which can be respectively engaged with the pinch levercontrol portions 74e and 74f of the drive slider 74 are formed from theside portions 90b and 91b of the pinch levers 90 and 91.

A case will be described in which the tape terminal end detecting signalis supplied to the LSI 11 in the reverse playback mode. As describedabove, the head chassis 47 is temporarily moved backward in thecondition where the recording/playback head 25 is kept in the reverseplayback mode as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, a mode which is the same as thestop mode is set in this condition. The bent portions 47d and 47e of thehead chassis 47 respectively urge the rotating shafts 53a and 54a of thepinch rollers 53 and 54 downward (FIG. 6). The pinch levers 90 and 91are pivoted clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, in FIG. 6against of the urging force of the tension springs 90c and 91c.

In this condition, when the LSI 11 starts energizing the solenoidplunger 21 (FIG. 13), the drive slider 74 is slid in the directionindicated by arrow D in FIG. 6 and is moved to a position indicated inFIG. 16. The switching operation of the head rotating mechanism 48 isperformed, and the recording/playback head 25 is set in the forwardplayback mode. Thereafter, the head slider 68 (not shown in FIG. 16) ismoved upward in FIG. 16, and the head chassis 47 is interlockingly movedin the same direction as the head slider 68. Upon movement of the headslider 68, the pinch levers 90 and 91 are respectively pivotedcounterclockwise and clockwise (FIG. 16) through the torsion springs 90cand 91c. As shown in FIG. 16, the engaging portion 90d of the pinchlever 90 abuts against the pinch lever control portion 74e of the driveslider 74, so that the pinch roller 53 is regulated to a position wherethe pinch roller 53 is not in contact with the capstan 51. Meanwhile,the engaging portion 91d of the pinch lever 90 does not abut against thepinch lever control portion 74f of the drive slider 74, so that thepinch roller 54 is in tight contact with the capstan 52 through the tape81. When the head chassis 47 is sufficiently moved upward in FIG. 16,the recording/playback head 25 is inserted in a cassette half 92indicated by the alternate long and two dashed lines in FIG. 16 andcomes into contact with the tape 81. Thus, forward playback isperformed.

Forward playback can be switched to reverse playback in the oppositemanner, as described above. The engaging portion 91d of the pinch lever91 abuts against the pinch lever control portion 74f of the drive slider74, whereas the pinch roller 54 is not in tight contact with the capstan52.

The tape guide drive mechanism 93 will be described with reference toFIG. 16. The tape guide portions 49a and 50a of the tape guides 49 and50 are disposed at the two sides of the head rotating mechanism 48 ofthe head chassis 47. Grooves 49b and 50b are longitudinally formed inthe tape guide portions 49a and 50a along the head chassis 47 to opposethe head chassis 47, as shown in FIG. 16. Pins 47f and 47g extending onthe head chassis 47 can be respectively fitted in the grooves 49b and50b. The lower end portion of the tape guide portion 49a is supported tobe rotatable about one end of a guide lever 49c, and the lower endportion of the tape guide portion 50a is also supported to be rotatableabout one end of a guide lever 50c, as shown in FIG. 16. The other endof each of the guide levers 49c and 50c is supported to be rotatableabout a corresponding one of shafts 49d and 50d disposed on the headchassis 47. A substantially L-shaped arm 49e which engages with therotating shaft 53a of the pinch roller 53 is formed at the other end ofthe guide lever 49c, and a substantially L-shaped arm 50e which engageswith the rotating shaft 54a of the pinch roller 54 is formed at theother end of the guide lever 50c. The guide levers 49c and 50c arerespectively pivotal counterclockwise and clockwise (FIG. 16) about theshafts 49d and 50d by the urging force of torsion springs (not shown) orthe like until the distal ends of the arms 49e and 50e of the guidelevers 49c and 50c respectively come into contact with the rotatingshafts 53a and 54a of the pinch rollers 53 and 54.

As shown in FIG. 16, in the forward playback mode, the head chassis 47is slid upward in FIG. 16 and at the same time the tape guide portions49a and 50a are moved upward in FIG. 16. At this time, the pivotalmovement of the pinch lever 90 is regulated in the position shown inFIG. 16, so that the guide lever 49c is pivoted and its arm 49esurrounds the rotating shaft 53a. As a result, the tape guide portion49a is then pushed upward (FIG. 16) along the groove 49b thereof andcomes into contact with the tape 81 to guide it. Meanwhile, since thepinch lever 50 is moved to bring the pinch roller 54 into tight contactwith the capstan 52, the distal end of the arm 50e of the guide lever50c is kept engaged with the rotating shaft 54a of the pinch roller 54.As a result, the tape guide portion 50a does not contact the tape 81.

In the reverse playback mode, the tape guide 50a is brought into contactwith the tape 81, while the tape guide portion 49a is separated from thetape 81.

In summary, in the forward playback mode, the tape 81 travels to theright in FIG. 16. At this time, the tape guide portions 49a and 50a arerespectively positioned in upstream and downstream sides of the tape 81with respect to the recording/playback head 25. On the other hand, inthe reverse playback mode, the tape 81 travels to the left in FIG. 16.At this time, the tape guide portions 49a and 50a are respectivelypositioned in the downstream and upstream sides of the tape 81 withrespect to the recording/playback head 25.

As described above, in the forward or reverse playback mode, the tapeguide portion 49a or 50a which is positioned on the upstream side in thetape travel direction with respect to the recording/playback head 25 ismoved to a position to guide the tape 81, while the tape guide portion50a or 49a which is positioned on the downstream side in the tape traveldirection with respect to the recording/playback head 25 is moved to aposition not to guide the tape 81. Thus, the tape 81 is stably andsmoothly driven in the forward or reverse direction. That is, when thetape 81 is driven at normal speed, in order to align the tape track withthe recording/playback head 25, the tape guide portion 49a or 50a ispositioned on the upstream side along the tape travel direction withrespect to the recording/playback head 25. However, if the tape guideportion 49a or 50a which is positioned on the downstream side of thetape travel direction with respect to the recording/playback head 25guides the tape 81, the tape guide portion 49a or 50a contacts the tape81, thus preventing smooth travel of the tape 81.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the tape guide portion 77a of the headsupport 77 is positioned on the downstream side of the tape traveldirection with respect to the recording/playback head 25 when the tapeis driven at normal speed in the forward or reverse direction. The tapeguide portion 77a is disposed adjacent to the recording/playback head 25and is required to properly guide the tape 81 to the recording/playbackhead 25 when the recording/playback head 25 is brought into contact withthe tape 81 by means of the head moving mechanism 67.

When the tape 81 is driven at normal speed, the tape portioncorresponding to the upstream side with respect to therecording/playback head 25 is guided by the tape guide portion 49a or50a, while the tape portion corresponding to the downstream side withrespect to the recording/playback head 25 is guided by the tape guideportion 77a. Thus, the tape 81 is smoothly driven. It is noted, however,that the tape 81 passing beyond the tape guide portion 77a need not beguided by the tape guide 50a or 49a in order to ensure smooth travel ofthe tape 81. Therefore, the tape guide portion 49a or 50a which ispositioned in the downstream side of the tape travel direction withrespect to the recording/playback head 25 must be separated from thetape 81 to obtain the smooth travel of the tape. The tape guide portion77a and one of the tape guide portions 49a and 50a are only brought intocontact with the tape 81 so that an excessive load may not be exerted onthe tape 81.

FIGS. 17 to 19 show modifications of a tape guide drive mechanism 93.Referring to FIG. 17, reference numerals 94 and 95 are tape guides whichcorrespond to tape guides 49 and 50. Elongated holes 94a and 94b areformed in the tape guide 94, and elongated holes 95a and 95b are formedin the tape guide 95. Pins 94c and 94d and pins 95c and 95d which extendon the head chassis 47 (not shown in FIG. 17) are loosely fitted in therespective elongated holes 94a and 94b and the respective elongatedholes 95a and 95b. The tape guides 94 and 95 are supported to bevertically slidable in FIG. 17. The tape guides 94 and 95 arerespectively urged downward by coil springs 94g and 95g in FIG. 17. Thesprings 94g and 95g are respectively hooked between engaging portions94e and 95e and pins 94f and 95f extending on the head chassis 47.

The lower end (FIG. 17) of each of the tape guides 94 and 95 abutsagainst one end of each of guide levers 94h and 95h. The guide levers94h and 95h are respectively supported at substantially the centralportions thereof to be pivotal about shafts 94i and 95i extending on thehead chassis 47. The other end of each of the guide levers 94h and 95hrespectively opposes side portions 90b and 91b of the pinch levers 90and 91.

In the forward playback mode as shown in FIG. 17, since the pinch lever91 is pivoted to a position where the pinch roller 54 is brought intotight contact with the capstan 52 through the tape 81, the tape guide 95is urged downward (FIG. 17) by the urging force of the spring 95g, sothat the tape guide 95 is not brought into contact with the tape 81.Meanwhile, since the pinch lever 90 is regulated to a position where thepinch roller 53 is spaced apart from the capstan 51, the pinch lever 90is moved upward (FIG. 17), so that the other end of the guide lever 94his brought into contact with side portion 90b of the pinch lever 90.Thus, the guide lever 94h is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 17. Oneend of the guide lever 94h urges the tape guide 94 upward against theurging force of the spring 94g, so that the tape guide 94 is broughtinto contact with the tape 81. In the reverse playback mode, the reverseof the operation described above is performed; the tape guide 95 isbrought into contact with the tape 81, while the tape guide 95 isseparated from the tape 81.

Referring to FIG. 18, grooves 96a and 97a are longitudinally formed intape guides 96 and 97 respectively, which correspond to the tape guides49 and 50 respectively. Pins 96b and 97b extending on the head chassis47 (not shown in FIG. 18) are loosely fitted in the grooves 96a and 97arespectively. The lower end (FIG. 18) of the tape guide 96 is supportedto be pivotal about one end of a guide lever 96c and the lower end ofthe tape guide 97 is supported to be pivotal about one end of a guidelever 97c. The other end of the guide lever 96c is supported to bepivotal about a shaft 96d extending on the head chassis 47, and theother end of the guide lever 97c is supported to be pivotal about ashaft 97d extending on the head chassis 47. A substantially L-shaped arm96e having the distal end engaging with the rotating shaft 53a of thepinch roller 53 is formed at the other end of the guide lever 96c, and asubstantially L-shaped arm 97e having the distal end engaging with therotating shaft 54a of the pinch roller 54 is formed at the other end ofthe guide lever 97c. The guide levers 96 and 97 are respectively pivotedcounterclockwise and clockwise (FIG. 18) about the shafts 96d and 97d bymeans of coil springs 96h and 97h. The spring 96h is hooked between anengaging portion 96f extending from the other end of the guide lever 96and an engaging portion 96g formed on the head chassis 47. The spring97h is hooked between an engaging portion 97f extending from the otherend of the guide lever 97 and an engaging portion 97g formed on the headchassis 47. The guide levers 96 and 97 are respectively pivotedcounterclockwise and clockwise in FIG. 18 until the distal ends of thearms 96e and 97e respectively abut against the rotating shafts 53a and54a of the pinch rollers 53 and 54.

In the forward playback mode as shown in FIG. 18, the head chassis 47 isslid upward in FIG. 18 and at the same time the tape guides 96 and 97are moved upward in FIG. 18. At this time, since the pivotal movement ofthe pinch lever 90 is regulated in the position shown in FIG. 18, theguide lever 96c is pivoted so that the arm 96e thereof surrounds therotating shaft 53a of the pinch roller 53. The tape guide 96 is thenmoved upward (FIG. 18) along the groove 96a of the tape guide 96.Meanwhile, since the pinch lever 91 is moved to bring the pinch roller54 into tight contact with the capstan 52, the distal end of the arm 97eof the guide lever 97c is kept engaged with the rotating shaft 54a ofthe pinch roller 54. Thus, the tape guide 97 is spaced apart from thetape 81.

In the reverse playback mode, the tape guide 97 is brought into contactwith the tape 81, while the tape guide 96 is separated from the tape 81.

Referring to FIG. 19, grooves 98a and 99a are longitudinally formed intape guides 98 and 99 respectively which correspond to the tape guides49 and 50 respectively. Pins 98b and 99b extending on the head chassis47 are loosely fitted in the grooves 98a and 99a respectively. The lowerends of the tape guides 98 and 99 are supported to be pivotal about thedistal ends of the pinch levers 90 and 91 respectively.

When the reverse playback mode is set, the pinch lever 91 is pivoted tobring the pinch roller 54 into tight contact with the capstan 52. At thesame time, the tape guide 99 is moved upward in FIG. 19, and the tapeguide 99 is brought into contact with the tape 81. Meanwhile, since thepinch lever 90 is regulated to a position shown in FIG. 19, the tapeguide 98 may not be moved upward in FIG. 19. As a result, the tape guide98 is spaced apart from the tape 81.

When the forward playback mode is set, the tape guide 98 is brought intocontact with the tape 81, while the tape guide 99 is separated from thetape 81.

The tape guide drive mechanism 73 may be realized with the arrangementsas shown in FIGS. 17 to 19.

What we claim is:
 1. A cassette tape recorder for recording and playingback from a cassette tape arranged in a package to have a tape surface,accessible through a plurality of head insertion openings including afirst, central opening, and second and third openings respectivelylocated on upstream and downstream ends of the first opening with noother openings therebetween, comprising:tape drive means for driving amagnetic tape at normal speed in one of forward and reverse directions;forward/reverse switching means connected to the tape drive means forswitching the driving of the magnetic tape at normal speed between theforward and reverse directions; head means for recording, playing back,and erasing on the on the magnetic tape, including a record/playbackhead, and an erase head, rigidly coupled to the record/playback head,the head means being movable in a direction towards and away from thetape surface and adapted to be inserted into the first head insertionopening; first and second tape guide means, each disposed adjacent to arespective side of the head means, the first tape guide means located tobe inserted into the second head insertion opening, and the second tapeguide means located to be inserted into the third head inserting openingand each tape guide means supported so as to be movable between a firstposition in which the guide means is protruding through a respectiveopening and in guiding contact with the tape, to guide the tape and asecond position in which the guide means is spaced from the tape, eachof the tape guide means including a pair of upstanding spaced-apartguide flanges which have inner surfaces that define therebetween arecessed guide surface, the tape being in guiding contact with the guidesurface of a respective one of the tape guide means when the guide meansis in the first position, the pair of guide flanges thereby guidingrespective edges of the tape; and tape guide drive means, operativelyinterlocked to the forward/reverse switching means, for displacing oneof the tape guide means to the first position, and for displacing theother of the tape guide means to the second position, the tape guidedrive means displacing said one and another tape guide means in responseto the tape being driven in one of the forward and reverse directionupon operation of the forward/reverse switching means.
 2. A taperecorder according to claim 1, wherein said head means moves to a facingposition to face a track of the tape running at normal speed in one ofsaid forward and reverse directions in response to said forward/reverseswitching means changing the tape travel directions.
 3. A tape recorderaccording to claim 2, further comprising third tape guide means attachedto said head means and being located on the downstream side of the tapetravel direction with respect to the head means when said head meansmoves to said facing position and faces a track of the tape running atnormal speed in one of said forward and reverse directions.
 4. A taperecorder according to claim 3 wherein said tape cassette furtherincludes a fourth opening, upstream of said second opening and a fifthopening, downstream of said third opening, further comprising:a pair ofcapstans each disposed adjacent to a respective side of said head means;a pair of pinch rollers including first and second pinch rollers, eachsupported for movement between contact and separation positions relativeto a respective one of said capstans, said first pinch roller adapted tobe inserted into said fourth opening when in said contact position, andsaid second pinch roller adapted to be inserted into said fifth opening,when in said contact position; and pinch roller drive means for movingone of said pinch rollers into said contact position and thus in tightcontact with one of said capstans and for moving the other of said pinchrollers into said separation position thus separating the other of saidpinch rollers from the other of said capstans when the tape is driven atnormal speed in one of said forward and reverse directions by saidforward/reverse switching means.
 5. A tape recorder according to claim4, wherein said tape guide drive means includes means for interlockinglydriving said tape guide drive means with said pinch roller drive means.6. A tape recorder according to claim 5, further comprising:headrotating means for rotatably supporting said head means so as toregister said head means with a track in accordance with one of theforward and reverse directions in which said tape is driven at normalspeed; and drive slider means being slidingly movable in a predetermineddirection interlockingly with the switching operation of saidforward/reverse switching means said head rotating means and said pinchroller drive means.
 7. A tape recorder according to claim 6, whereinsaid pinch roller drive means comprises:a pair of pinch lever means eachfor rotatably supporting a respective one of said pinch rollers and eachpivotal between an advanced position to bring said one of said pair ofpinch rollers into contact with said one of said pair of capstans and aretracted position to separate said one of said pair of pinch rollersfrom said one of said pair of capstans; and urging means providing anurging force for urging said one of said pair of pinch rollers supportedby a respective one of said pinch lever means to bring said one of saidpair of pinch rollers into contact with said one of said pair ofcapstans, respectively, said urging means including means for preventingpivotal movement of said pinch lever means, due to said urging means, byselectively engaging said one of said pinch lever means with said driveslider means in accordance with a position thereof.
 8. A tape recorderaccording to claim 7, wherein said pinch roller drive means includesmeans to controllably bring said one of said pair of pinch rollers whichis positioned at the downstream of a travel direction of the tape withrespect to said head means into contact with said one of said pair ofcapstans and to controllably separate said the other of said pair ofpinch rollers which is positioned on the upstream of the traveldirection of the tape with respect to said head means from said other ofsaid pair of capstans when said tape is driven at normal speed in one ofthe forward and reverse directions.
 9. A tape recorder according toclaim 8, wherein said tape guide drive means includesfirst guide levermeans pivotally coupled to said tape guide means to respectively allowsaid tape guide means to move between the first and second positions;biasing means for biasing said first guide lever eans in a directionwhere said tape guide means are located in the first position; and meansdefining engaging portions respectively formed in said first guide levermeans which respectively engage with said pinch lever means to preventpivotal movement of said first guide lever means by the urging force ofsaid biasing means when said one of said pair of pinch roller menas ispivoted into said contact position to come into contact with said one ofsaid pair of capstans.
 10. A tape recorder according to claim 9, whereinsaid tape guide drive means comprises:second urging means forrespectively urging said tape guide means to the second position; andsecond guide lever means which respectively engage at two ends thereofwith said tape guide means and said pinch lever means and which arepivotally supported at central portions thereof, wherein said tape guideresponsively move to the first position against the urging force of saidsecond urging means through said second guide lever means when saidpinch lever means separate said other of said pair of pinch rollers fromsaid other of said pair of capstans.
 11. A tape recorder according toclaim 7, wherein said pinch roller drive means includes means tocontrollably birng said one of said pair of pinch rollers which ispositioned on the downstream of the travel direction of the tape withrespect to said head means into contact with said one of said pair ofcapstans and to controllably separate said other of said pair of pinchrollers which is positioned on the upstream of the travel direction ofthe tape with respect to said head means from said one of said apair ofcapstans when the tape is driven at normal speed in one of the forwardand reverse directions.
 12. A tape recorder according to claim 11,wherein said tape guide drive means includes coupling means for couplingsaid tape guide means and said pinch lever means to move said tape guidemeans to the first and second positions in response to said pinch levermeans bringing said one of said pair of pinch rollers into said contactposition with said one of said pair of capstans and to separate saidother of said pair of pinch rollers from said other of said pair ofcapstans.